Marquette grapes: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation and care rules

The Marquette grape variety is considered relatively young, but has already established itself as a promising one. It is excellent for fresh consumption and as a raw material for making wine, which is aromatic and has a pleasant aftertaste. If you want to appreciate the merits of a variety, you should learn about its features and rules of care.

Marquette grape variety

Black bunches of grapes do not attract attention to their appearance. Such a goal was not pursued when breeding a variety, since the grapes were created for use for technical purposes. At the same time, all other qualities of the plant are considered among the best.

Breeding history

Work on the development of the Marquette grape variety began in 1989. Seedlings for breeding began to be selected earlier and two types of grapes were selected - Rava, a hybrid culture of MS 1094. A new plant species appeared thanks to the work of American scientists. The variety immediately received high marks, and the wines made on its basis successfully passed the tasting.

In the Russian regions, grapes have been cultivated for 10 years, but for most gardeners it remains unknown. Experts are confident that the situation will change soon, and it will take its place of honor, pushing aside well-known and sought-after varieties.

External parameters

An interesting feature of grapes is their vertical growth, which allows the plant to receive the maximum amount of sunlight. Brushes with dark berries are medium in size and cone shaped. The hue of the fruit may be so intense that it appears black.

Pros and cons

The Marquette grape variety is considered an ideal raw material for making wine. When growing it, you do not need to spend a lot of effort on care, as the plant belongs to the category of unpretentious. Marquette grape virtues include:

decent flavor characteristics;
unique ability to survive at low temperatures;
excellent immune properties, especially against diseases of fungal origin;
unpretentious care;
stability of fruiting.

Some gardeners note the lack of beauty of grapes and say that there are varieties that can form bunches of greater weight. The disadvantage is the susceptibility of young shoots to spring frosts, already when the temperature drops to -3 C shoots may die.

Characteristics of the variety

The Marquette grape variety is a hybrid variety with an average ripening period. Vertical shoots give off black grape clusters with fruits rated among the highest tasting qualities.

Frost resistance

The variety has a unique ability to survive in regions with a cold climate. He is not afraid of temperatures dropping to -38 ^{C. In connection with this feature, many gardeners allow themselves not to waste time organizing a shelter for a plant.}

Exposure to mildew and oidium

The variety is highly resistant to diseases dangerous for grapes - mildew, oidium. To prevent infection, preventive spraying is carried out with Bordeaux mixture, copper sulphate solution or targeted drugs.

Pollination

The plant forms bisexual fruits, so there are no problems with pollination. This property allows you to form plantings of only one variety and provides independence from insects. Good quality pollination is facilitated by light pollen, which is easily carried even by a slight gust of wind.

Description of fruits

Black fruits are characterized by a regular rounded shape and dark color. The pulp has a unique flavor.

Sweetness and acidity

Increased sweetness is the hallmark of Marquette. The content of acids is 2.9%, sugar - up to 30%. To preserve the taste properties, it is necessary to organize a timely harvest.

How much does a berry and bunch weigh on average

The plant forms a medium size brush. The mass of a bunch can reach 300-400 g. Up to 100 centners of berries are harvested from 1 ha.

Planting seedlings

To purchase seedlings, you need to choose trusted sellers, give preference to specialized nurseries. The plant should not show signs of damage and rot. On the root system, it is important to have "live" processes, which must be elastic and have a whitish tint.

Landing in open ground

The soil is prepared in advance, carefully digging it up and freeing it from the remains of vegetation. The pit for planting seedlings should be 80 cm deep. The bottom is laid out with humus, a drainage layer is formed, and the evenly spread roots are covered with soil. The plant needs to be tied up and watered thoroughly.

What you need to know when landing

It is important to choose the right place for landing. The soil should be loamy or sandy. Location near the surface of groundwater will negatively affect the growth of grapes, so laying them higher than 2.5 m is a limitation.The site should be sunny and not subject to gusts of wind. It is important to take into account the compatibility of the culture with the "neighbors", since the presence of some garden plants nearby can adversely affect the growth of vines.

The presence of tall fruit trees, potato and eggplant plantations nearby is highly undesirable.

Growing and care

Caring for grapes is standard and has no special nuances. The plant needs pruning, watering and periodic top dressing.

Pruning the vine

The plant needs pruning. Extra shoots are removed, leaving 35-40 eyes on an adult bush.

Irrigate and feed

Marquette does not need abundant watering. Abundant watering is required before flowering, which will “wake up” the plant and become an impetus for its active growth. During the growing season, the need for moisture is determined based on the sufficiency of natural precipitation and the degree of drying of the soil.

It is enough to carry out moisturizing once a month, while the water should be warm, and the optimum temperature is +15 C.

Simultaneously with watering, bushes can be fed. Grapes are able to absorb only liquid fertilizers, so the preparations must be water-soluble. In the spring, nitrogen-containing and potassium products will help accelerate growth. It is especially necessary to support the plant during flowering and maturation. Potassium-phosphorus s alts and ash can help with this.

What needs to be done to protect against diseases and pests

Despite the resistance of grapes to diseases, preventive measures should not be neglected. Once a year, fungicide treatment is carried out to protect the shoots from fungal infections.

Removing top roots and extra shoots

After the appearance of 3-4 shoots, you need to choose the strongest one, and the rest must be removed.During the growing season, it will stretch, and a powerful vine will form by autumn. Adult plants are inspected in the spring, and dry shoots are removed before bud break. In the last days of June, it is recommended to pinch the upper shoots, which will allow the brushes to receive more nutrition. The bushes are also pruned, leaving 5 leaves after every second vine.

Pruning the top roots close to the soil surface will allow the plant to form a stronger root system. The presence of such shoots will lead to the fact that in winter they will begin to freeze, which can adversely affect the he alth of the grapes and its "awakening" in the spring. To do this, dig a hole 20 cm deep and cut off the visible part of the process with a sharp pruner, trying to do it as close to the root as possible.

Harvest and storage of crops

20 days before the planned harvest, it is recommended to thin out the leaves and remove the lower leaf plates, which will improve aeration and provide the clusters with more light.In the northern regions, it is recommended to remove clusters with small berries and leave 2 largest brushes on the shoot.

When collecting, you need to carefully cut off each brush with sharp tools and place it neatly in a container. It is necessary to store fruits at a temperature from +3 C to +10 ^{C. Some gardeners practice hanging bunches in the cellar on a wire, while the brushes should not touch. Regardless of the chosen method of storing the crop, periodic inspections and removal of spoiled berries are required.}